el Pretérito perfecto progresivo versus a perífrasis verbal?

Jessica H.A2Kwiziq community member

el Pretérito perfecto progresivo versus a perífrasis verbal?

Why is ‘has been …ing’ sometimes el Pretérito perfecto progresivo and other times a perífrasis verbal?     eg:

Carlos lleva trabajando en ese colegio dos años.

Carlos has been working in that school for two years. 

Laura ha estado viendo a su novio a escondidas.

Laura has been seeing her boyfriend secretly.

Asked 2 months ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Jessica

The translations coincide because when we use the perífrasis "llevar + present participle", there is no direct translation in English for this. The nuance of "llevar + -ando/iendo" is that someone "has been doing something for a certain time". This is what often happens with the perífrasis, the first verb loses its literal meaning. 

I hope this clarifies it. 

Here is a bit more information about perífrasis.

Saludos cordiales

Inma

el Pretérito perfecto progresivo versus a perífrasis verbal?

Why is ‘has been …ing’ sometimes el Pretérito perfecto progresivo and other times a perífrasis verbal?     eg:

Carlos lleva trabajando en ese colegio dos años.

Carlos has been working in that school for two years. 

Laura ha estado viendo a su novio a escondidas.

Laura has been seeing her boyfriend secretly.

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